In 2017, the Directorate General of Armament [DGA] entrusted Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group with the management of the SDAM program [Système de drone aérien pour la Marine]with the objective of equipping, ultimately, the frigates called first row of the French Navy, in addition to their on -board helicopter.
Subsequently, Airbus Helicopters developed a demonstrator-the VSR-700-from the Civil Helicopter Cabri G2, designed by the French SME Guimbal. But the challenge of this program should not be limited to developing a new on -board aerial drone … but also to validate a technology supposed to allow such a device to automatically apply on a surface ship regardless of the state of the sea.
For this, Airbus Helicopters has integrated its Deckfinder technology at the VSR-700. This system makes it possible to automatically launch and recover a drone with an accuracy of 10 to 20 cm, in difficult conditions and regardless of the geolocation devices by satellite satellite [GNSS].
The ability to implement a drone from a ship “with strong dynamics and strong rolling and pitch angles not being available on the European market, it constitutes the main technical issue of the risk of risk. As a reminder, the staff’s objective expresses the need to take off and applies to the navy buildings, in particular Fremm and FDI, going as far as 5 for the state of the sea, “said a parliamentary report.
However, after a few technical adventures, the SDAM does not escape doubts, some having estimated that it would not provide “decisive” capacities compared to the Air Drone Serval [nom donné au S-100 Camcopter de Schiebel]already in service within naval aeronautics. And that because it was not planned to use it for offensive uses.
Anyway, the military programming law [LPM] 2024-30 confirmed this program, specifying that the French Navy was going to receive ten SDAMs before 2030, the total “target” having been fixed in fifteen copies by 2035.
After two successful test campaigns [l’une réalisée depuis le navire de soutien civil VN Partisan, l’autre depuis la frégate multimissions Provence]the SDAM has just taken a new stage on the occasion of the International Aeronautical and Le Bourget space fair.
Indeed, on June 17, the DGA signed a framework agreement with Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group in order to acquire six VSR-700, for an amount that was not specified. These devices will equip four of the eight FREMMs as well as two of the five future defense and intervention frigates [FDI, classe Ronarc’h].
Probably other orders will follow in the future, given that the Ministry of the Armed Forces had indicated, some time ago, that the SDAM would offer a “additional capacity” not only to the FREMM and the FDI but also to the frigates of air defense [FDA]amphibious helicopter holders [PHA] and to the “future generation of patrollers”.
In the meantime, said the DGA, this agreement supervises “the acquisition of VSR700 systems, for French needs and partner countries as well as contractualization on behalf and on behalf of interested nations”.
The VSR-700 version chosen does not include anti-submarine control capacities, while such a configuration was unveiled by Airbus Helicopters at the Euronaval 2024 fair.
In addition to the air drone, the SDAM also includes the Steeris mission system [ex-I4drones]developed by Naval Group.
“The VSR700 in its final version will bring an unprecedented capacity to the French Navy thanks to its sensors optimized for use in a marine environment. It can be deployed about 150 kilometers from the load -bearing building with an autonomy of eight hours, ”said the DGA.
As a reminder, which can steal for 8 hours at 5,000 meters above sea level and at the speed of 185 km/h thanks to a 145 hp engine, the VSR-70 is equipped with a Diades C-Ranger 200 radar, a Wescam MW-10 optronic ball and an AIS receiver. The DGA does not, in the future, deviate from other useful charges, such as soundflash acoustic buoys.
